contained in Couches ^^ Fishes of ConmalV^ 19 



anal, and caudal fins is a process formed of firm elongated 

 imbricated scales. Colour a uniform light brown, lighter on 

 the belly ; upper eyelid black ; at the edge of the base of the 

 caudal fin a dark-brown spot. Pectorals yellow, all the other 

 fins bordered with yellow. 



I have never seen more than one specimen of this species; 

 which was taken with a line, in February, 1830, at the con- 

 clusion of a very cold season. It differs from the common 

 wrass and corkwing in its more elongated form and rounder 

 make ; from the former also in its serrated gill cover. From 

 the rock-cook and goldsinny it may be distinguished, be- 

 sides in its larger size, by its longer form, larger mouth, 

 rounder tail, and by the spot at the root of the tail being far- 

 ther behind. The eye is larger than in the cook, and nearer 

 the angle of the mouth ; it may also be distinguished by the 

 serrated gill cover, form of the lateral line, by more numerous 

 tipped dorsal and anal spines, less rounded tail ; as well as 

 by the colours, which are sober, whereas those of the cook 

 are always splendid, and are little subject to variety, except 

 of distribution. From all the species with which I am ac- 

 quainted, it may be readily known by the singular imbricated 

 process of scales between the rays of the fins. I find some 

 difficulty in referring it to any described species ; but it seems 

 to me to approach most closely to the Z/abrus luscus of Lin- 

 naeus. 



Hog Wrass (La^brus sui'llus L.). 



Dorsal fin filamentous, above the tail a black spot ; dorsal 

 spines nine. Osbeck is my only authority for introducing 

 this species among Cornish fishes. When on his voyage from 

 the East, the people of the Scilly Islands brought it, among 

 other fishes, on board of his ship for sale. {Osbeck^ s Voyage^ 

 vol. ii. p. ]22.) The English name I have assigned it is 

 merely a translation of the Linnaean term. 



Smooth Perch (Pp^ecaZ/. Cha'nnus C.)j Class III. Thoracic Fishes. 



I had long unavailingly sought for a satisfactory account 

 of this species in the books on natural history to which 

 I was able to procure access, when I had unexpectedly the 

 good fortune to discover it in Gesner {Nomenclator Aquat. 

 Anim,, p. 27.), under the name of Ch^nnus, or Channa ; his 

 figure and account being strikingly applicable to this fish in a 

 peculiarity I had remarked before I was attracted by the note 

 in this ancient author, from which, indeed, the name is derived. 

 " Channa piscis moriens perpetuo hiat, ac rictum edit." * As 



* " The Channa, whilst dying, perpetually gasps and eructs." 

 c 2 



